Women are likely to show five times more interest in a younger man than an older one, while dating online, a report has revealed.

According to the study published in Time magazine, the numbers from various dating sites consistently show that both men and women opt for younger partners, reported a newspaper.

A website, AYI, examined data from its 68 million downloads and 20 million Facebook profiles, focusing on one million 'approved' matches among a group of 35,942 users between the age group of 30 to 49.

The result revealed that women were five times more likely to show interest in a man five years younger than one who was five years older.

Among the 26, 434 men aged 30 to 49, 42 percent accepted that they wouldn't like to date an older woman but if contacted by an older women, they might not turn her proposal down.

Men are only 22 percent less likely to respond to an older woman than a younger woman if she initiates contact.